Never Kiss a Highlander

by Michele Sinclair

  By that afternoon, he had not only selected several men to start working on the walls, but he had changed the plans to make them a tunnel. Hamish had been concerned about time, as he was worried that it would not be completed before Ulrick’s return, but Robert casually dismissed his fear. The fastest solid stone castle ever erected had just taken fifteen months. While uncommon, an entire solid stone tower could be and had been built in two weeks. A simple stone passageway would take far less than that.

  Hamish had been foolish to doubt his brother. The weather had been favorable and it had rained heavily only once; Robert had taken advantage of their good fortune. When it came to masonry, Robert’s placating manner was nonexistent. He knew what he was doing and demanded those working for him performed to his specifications and quickly. As a result, the tunnel was going up much faster than Hamish would have thought.

  From outside Foinaven, nothing looked different. But when the gate was open, no longer could people just enter and amble in any direction. Within three days, thick walls had been erected and they had withstood the tests Amon and Davros devised. They themselves pounded on the walls and even got several men to join them, to see if they would tumble. Robert had done nothing to stop them and there was a reason why. Not a rock moved. That was when he told Hamish that he was not done. The passageway was going to be covered with an arched stone roof.

  Hamish had thought such an endeavor unnecessary and feared it might collapse, but Robert countered with all the benefits a roof provided. If left unprotected to the weather, the walkway would collect water and take several days to dry out. With enough rain, like the kind they endured during winter, the path between the gate and the tower would oftentimes become unpassable. Hamish believed him but also worried that it would take too long. Robert assured Hamish that he could have it done by Candlemas and now, seeing parts of it take shape, Hamish vowed not to doubt his brother again.

  Robert barked another order and Hamish shook his head in bewilderment. He left the window and exited the hall. He had moved around some barrels and several huge logs when he bumped into Selah.

  She beamed at him. “Robert’s over that way,” she said, gesturing in the direction he already knew his brother to be. “Please tell him I love him, but I must be off.” Before he knew it, she had darted around him, stating something over her shoulder about needing to find Mairead.

  Hamish continued toward his brother, staggered once again how so much had changed so quickly. A happier Robert meant a happier Selah. She was incredibly proud that her husband was getting to show off his skills and had hinted more than once that when Hamish had left twelve years ago, he might have given up a lot, but so had Robert. That both brothers were very much alike.

  Hamish just wished that a happier Selah made for a happier Mairead. Every night, in the privacy of their bedroom, his wife grumbled that while he, his brother, and her sister might be delighted with all their plans, she was not.

  Unlike Robert, Selah had not undergone any similar miraculous transformation. Her older sister still refused to hear anything that she did not like and Selah had decided that Mairead and Hamish needed to marry for a second time. She did not care that they already considered themselves bound together in the eyes of the Lord. There was going to be another ceremony and while a priest was not available to preside over it, there at least would be witnesses. More specifically, her!

  Mairead did not want the ceremony. She had thought it unnecessary and had looked to Hamish to stop the proceeding, but he had been—and still was—fully in favor of the idea.

  Hamish welcomed the idea of proclaiming Mairead as his wife to all. He did not want any doubt that she was his and had said so one night at dinner, which only encouraged Selah and her efforts. He had no idea those efforts would collide so violently with Mairead’s preferences. Hamish was still not sure exactly what the problem was. Something about Selah’s ideas on the vows and her dress—things that were rather unimportant. He still felt being upset about such stuff to be inane, but he had learned the hard way to keep that opinion to himself.

  Hamish reached the construction area and went to stand by Robert. “I honestly thought you were aiming for the impossible when you said this would be done by Candlemas.”

  Robert shaded his eyes and watched as the men carefully laid the stones down where he instructed. “Two more days I think,” he said, his gaze never leaving the work. “That gives us a day to spare.” The men went to get more material and Robert shifted his gaze to Hamish. “It would never have been possible if you had not ordered those lads to gather up all those rocks. I must admit that I was surprised when one of them informed me that I had been paying them to do so.”

  Hamish shrugged unapologetically. “I knew you would need them. If not for this, then for repairs. There are several places that could use your attention.”

  Robert nodded in agreement. “It has been so long since I have done this work, I forgot how much I enjoyed it. It was hard . . . really hard . . . when the castle was completed. I think I avoided the repairs to spare myself the grief of seeing it end once again.”

  Hamish was surprised to hear longing in his brother’s voice. Master mason was something few achieved, but it was a very hard job and the life was not a stable one. It required a willingness to continually uproot one’s home and family. The idea of roaming the country and setting only temporary roots was for single men like Conan McTiernay. His brother had little Rab and Selah, and both required sheltering. He was fortunate to have Foinaven as his home. Still, Hamish knew what it was like to appreciate what one had and yet still long for more.

  “What are those?” Hamish asked, pointing to several indentions in the walls.

  “Ah, those,” Robert said with a smile. “I may not like the idea of portcullises, but as a mason I cannot design a stone entrance structure and not plan for the day they may be needed.”

  Hamish walked along the wall, taking a long look. Robert had created two spots where a portcullis could be installed—one near the gate and one near the tower entrance. It would not be simple, but it could be done without dismantling a huge portion of the wall to do so.

  Robert brought him inside the passageway, stepping around three men who were focused on reinforcing the tower door leading out into the courtyard. “Is this what you wanted?”

  Hamish studied the door and nodded. The men were not done, but by the time they finished, it would not be easily broken through. Hamish wondered if Robert understood how all that he was doing was in direct contradiction with his concept of strength bringing violence, but was afraid to ask in case it prompted Robert to cease being cooperative. It was more than likely his brother knew of the contradictions and had just mentally pushed them aside, deciding to let his love of building temporarily displace his stance against aggression.

  Robert craned his head to look up. Abe and Seamus had returned a couple more times to relieve their frustrations and now several holes about the size of a small platter were scattered along the ceiling. “You sure those don’t need to be repaired?”

  “You have enough to focus on. Besides, they provide light.”

  Robert rolled his eyes. He knew they served a purpose, but Hamish was right. He had enough to do and worry about if he was going to be finished by Candlemas. And he had to be, not for Hamish, but for Selah. He had promised her that all the village could come and witness the second handfasting of Hamish and Mairead. Selah wanted nothing to mar the day, and that included the noise and dirt from construction. Besides, the feast marked the midpoint of winter, halfway between the shortest day and the spring equinox end of winter. The next day nearly all his labor would be in the fields, preparing the land for first planting, and he would no longer be available to help.

  They stepped back outside. The large, thick logs of wood were being stacked just outside the bakery, which was away from all the construction. “What is the lumber for?” Hamish asked. “Because it looks like they are building a bonfire.”

  Robert n
odded. “One here and one on the other side as well. They are insurance.” His brother produced a dimpled grin. “I doubt the rain will cooperate with us much longer and I’ve promised Selah this will be done by Candlemas. I cannot do anything about the rain, but I can create light when the sun goes down.”

  Hamish was secretly glad that Robert was so motivated for while he knew that his brother anticipated Ulrick to return mid-February, Hamish predicted the man would arrive much sooner. “Well, I will take no more of your time.”

  Robert gave him a brief nod of acknowledgment and went to go inspect what the men had done during his brief interruption. Hamish too had things to do. He returned to the keep and found his chambers unsurprisingly empty. He peered behind the door to grab his sword, but it was not there. He searched the room, looking anywhere Mairead might have moved it.

  “Are you looking for this?”

  Hamish spun around and saw Mairead with his sword. The tip was on the ground for it was too heavy for her to hold upright for any length of time. “Aye. Why do you have it?”

  Mairead moved so that he could grasp the handle, relieving her from holding up its weight. “I have a better question. Why do you need it?”

  “Why do you think?” he retorted.

  Mairead gave him a light, painless punch in the arm. “I knew you were still training with the men.”

  “I never said that I would stop.” His tone was slightly defensive. “I only agreed that not all of them were needed to confront Ulrick. I promised to give Robert the opportunity to try to talk peacefully with the man and I intend to keep that promise.”

  Mairead jutted her chin to the window. “And what is the purpose of that then?”

  Hamish closed his hand around the back of her neck and brought his mouth down to hers. He kissed her slowly, lingeringly and with deep possessiveness. “That,” he said catching his breath, “is one of your contingencies.”

  Mairead blinked, her expression full of mock incomprehension. “I have no idea what you mean. I am sure that tunnel out there is not my idea, nor is it my brother-in-law’s. I happen to know that it is the brilliant concept of my husband’s.”

  Hamish bent down and gave her one more quick kiss and then opened the door. Just before he walked through, he turned back around. “Thank you.”

  This time Mairead truly was puzzled. “What for?”

  “I always wanted to know what it felt like to be a McTiernay. Now I do.”

  “I still don’t understand.” Hamish had always been a leader, warrior, and a skilled strategist so it made no sense that he only just now thought he was like them. “You have always been one of them.”

  Hamish shook his head. “I was missing the one thing every truly successful McTiernay has.” Those who spent time with the McTiernays did not remember them for their abilities with a sword, or even their skills at strategy and battle. What the McTiernay brothers were really known for were their feisty, beautiful, intelligent women. It had been the thing Hamish had envied the most.

  Mairead put her hands on her hips and this time prompted him in a voice that required a better explanation. “Which was . . .”

  “You, Mairead. To be a true McTiernay, I need you.”

  * * *

  Robert called for more ale and all the mugs in the small gathering to be refilled. “Tonight we will enjoy good company and friends, but tomorrow will be the real celebration. It will be a Candlemas like we have never had before. Davros and his men have brought us more than enough birds and game for the largest feast Foinaven has ever seen.” He paused to nod to the falconer and his wife. “And the stone passageway is complete. On time, as promised, so that all may come in and join the festivities,” he finished with a wink to his wife.

  Hamish glanced at Amon, who only shared his slight grimace. “I’m not sure such a large crowd is a good idea. Perhaps we should minimalize the revelry.”

  Selah balked at the suggestion. “Absolutely not! This year’s Candlemas will be the most memorable in Foinaven’s history for you and Mairead are to be married!”

  Mairead shook her head. “We already are married, Selah.” She had been watching Hamish. He was visibly tense and it was clear that he was uncomfortable with another wedding ceremony. Mairead feared that by pressing for one, Selah was asking for more than Hamish was willing to give. He still had not admitted his feelings and Mairead worried that putting him through a ceremony where people would expect them to proclaim their love and devotion might push him away, not bring him closer.

  Selah’s jaw tensed. “Not with witnesses you weren’t.” Her voice was clipped and brokered no argument.

  “Still, with such a large gathering, it makes it difficult to prepare for certain eventualities.” Hamish did not want to damper the mood. He wished he could just relax and enjoy the celebration and the idea of announcing to the world that Mairead was his and his alone, but his gut was screaming caution.

  Robert waved a dismissive hand. “Ulrick would not dare try anything untoward on a holy day.”

  Hamish knew otherwise. A day all were drinking and unprepared for an uprising was exactly the time he would dare to return.

  Amon smiled at his friend. “Two ceremonies?” he whispered in an effort to lift Hamish’s mood. “You must really be in love to be so eager to marry twice.”

  “I doubt I will have the chance,” Hamish replied, keeping his voice low.

  He wanted to ignore the possibilities, but he found he could not. He grabbed his mug and downed several gulps of ale. “When we leave here, send four of our most reliable men to the two lookouts you and I discussed earlier. Tell them they are to remain until they see Ulrick. When they do, have one ride back as quickly as he can with word. If I’m right, I doubt they will have to wait for long.”

  Amon frowned. “On this, I agree with Robert. Ulrick might be willing, but he would never convince his men to attack on Candlemas.”

  Hamish huffed. “If he has mercenaries riding with him, they would. They would be enticed to attack Foinaven when its guards appeared most vulnerable and unprepared. That’s tomorrow.”

  Amon sighed sorrowfully. “I’m sorry, my friend. I know you wanted to wed your pretty wife again and I would love to witness your joy.”

  Hamish took another swallow. “Just send the men, Amon. And make sure you know where Lumley, Jollis, and Ulrick’s other two spies are at all times. When he gets here, I want nothing to deprive them of their reunion.”

  Hamish then stood, prompting Mairead to stand with him. They wished the group a good evening and retired to their rooms. He said little, not wanting conversation. He only wanted to hold Mairead, make her his, and forget the world for a little while. As he lay beside her, about to fall asleep, he prayed his fears were unfounded.

  An hour before the first rays of sunlight broke over the horizon, there was a knock on the door.

  Ulrick had been spotted.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Hamish listened to what the messenger had to say and then closed the door. He threw on his leine and began to pleat his plaid. He looked back at Mairead to make sure she was not just watching him, but also getting out of bed. He was surprised to find her already in her bliaut, tying up its sides. In the firelight, he could see the concerned look on her face. He wished there was something he could say to erase it, but the only words that would work would have been lies. “When you finish, pack a small bag. Make sure Selah packs one for herself and for little Rab. Then I want the three of you to wait in my old chambers. Bolt the door and do not open it for anyone but me.”

  Mairead’s brow furrowed with confusion. She noticed Hamish was not packing anything and had the uncomfortable feeling that if she was forced to leave, Hamish would not be joining her—possibly ever. “This is not the way it is supposed to be.”

  Hamish ignored the soft tremor in her voice and forced himself to focus on what needed to be done. First on that list was ensuring Mairead’s, Selah’s, and Rab’s safety. “If you hear fighting, do not open t
he door. Do not check on things or attempt to help anyone you think might be injured. And that includes Selah. Neither should you wait. Just use the exit through the hearth and make sure you close it behind you. Ian Kyldoane and his brother are posted at its exit and have sworn a blood oath to me that they will get the three of you to McTiernay lands and into Conor and Laurel McTiernay’s safekeeping.”

  “I am not leaving you behind,” Mairead stated emphatically.

  “I do not plan on it coming to that,” Hamish retorted, trying to sound both sincere and lighthearted. “You know how I like to have contingencies.” He had hoped his levity would calm her just a little, but instead a cold silence enveloped the room. Hamish finished with his belt and chanced a glance and knew instantly that Mairead was not in the least amused. She was staring at the logs in the fireplace, gripping the back of one of the chairs, her knuckles white. She was scared and it was not for herself, but for him. Of what he was saying might happen.

  He went to pull her back to his chest and hold her in his arms. “You knew if we stayed there could be consequences. This was one of them,” he whispered into her hair.

  Mairead continued to stare at the red embers. Aye, she knew there would be consequences, but her running away as Hamish fought for his life and for Foinaven was not one of them. If he was going to fight, so should she. This was her home and everything that was about to happen was because of her. Hamish must have sensed where her mind was reeling. “I need you to do this. I cannot split my attention between worrying about you and what needs to be done. You said you trust me. Now more than ever I need you to mean that and do exactly as I ask.”